ECO204Y5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Marginal Utility, Budget Constraint, Indifference Curve

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13 May 2017

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Chapter 3: consumer behaviour: consumer behaviour: the explanation of how consumers allocate incomes to the purchase of different goods and services. If a consumer prefers: basket a to basket b, basket b to basket c. Indifference curve: curve representing all combinations of market baskets that provide a consumer with the same level of satisfaction: that person is therefore indifferent among the market baskets represented by the points graphed on the curve. Indifference maps indifference map: graph containing a set of indifference curves showing the market baskets among which a consumer is indifferent indifference curves cannot intercept: violates assumption of transitivity. The shape of indifference curves: the fact that indifference curves slope downward follows directly from our assumption that more of a good is better than less. Utility: utility: numerical score representing the satisfaction that a consumer gets from a given market basket, utility is a device used to simplify the ranking of market baskets.

Related Questions

Chapter 4 is entitled 'The Theory of Individual Behavior', and much of the chapter is devoted to the use of indifference analysis to build a framework for demand theory. Indifference analysis goes to great lengths to explain consumer behavior and how consumers make choices between options available to them. The options they face include budget constraints, different preferences for risk, and a multitude of products and services from which to choose. If one steps back and looks at consumer behavior, it seems to be based upon a premise that is not actually stated in our book. That premise is that consumers behave rationally in their consumption expenditures.

Do you believe consumers do behave rationally? Is so, how do you explain impulse buying, buying as a result of advertising or strong sales pitches, buying for purposes of conspicuous consumption, or buying to simply have something bigger and better than someone else? If consumers do not behave rationally, how can the theory in chapter 4 account for the above behavior? Is the theory still valid? If you think consumers do behave rationally, how can rational thinking explain the above behaviors? How do your thoughts impact, if at all, your opinion of the theory espoused in our text?

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Question 26 pts

Which of the following is not a reason why specialization and trade are beneficial to society?

	Specialization fosters learning by doing, thus lowering the unit-costs of products
	Firms and workers become less dependent on others for producing goods and services

	The total output of economic goods may be increased even without any increase in resources
	Scarce resources are utilized more efficiently by exploiting differences among them

Question 27 pts

Laissez-faire capitalism limits the government's economic functions to the following, except:

	Protecting private property rights
	Establishing a legal environment to enforce contracts among individuals

	Setting prices of individual goods and services
	Preventing individuals and firms from coercing others

Question 28 pts

A production system where various workers concentrate on different specialized tasks to contribute towards a whole product is referred to as:

	Roundabout production
	A coincidence of wants

	Freedom of enterprise
	Division of labor

Question 29 pts

The market system is said to be characterized by "consumer sovereignty." This is because:

	A sovereign government determines which consumer goods will be produced
	Firms must match their production decisions to the consumers' choices

	The prices of consumer goods are regulated by a sovereign government
	Consumer goods are considered to be more important than capital goods

Question 30 pts

Consumers express self-interest when they:

	Seek the lowest price for a product
	Reduce business losses

	Exclude others in their thinking
	Collect economic profits

Question 311 pts

Refer to the above graph with three demand curves. An "increase in quantity demanded" would be illustrated by a change from:

	Point 5 to point 1
	Point 4 to point 1

	Point 2 to point 5
	Point 4 to point 6

Question 32 pts

The table below shows the weekly demand for hamburger in a market where there are just three buyers.

Refer to the above table. At a price of $6, the weekly market quantity demanded for hamburger is:

	17
	23

	24
	18

Question 33pts

If farmers withhold some of their current corn harvest from the market because they anticipate a higher price of corn in the near future, then this would cause a(n):

	Movement up along the current supply curve of corn
	Movement down along the current supply curve of corn

	Leftward shift in the current supply of corn
	Rightward shift in the current supply of corn

Question 34 pts

Which of the following will not cause the supply curve to shift?

	A technological change in the production of the good
	A change in the prices of other goods that producers could be producing

	A change in the costs of resources needed to produce the good
	A change in the price of the good

Question 35 pts

All of the following would affect the position of the supply curve for cranberries, except the:

	Price of agricultural land for cranberries
	Cost of fertilizers for cranberry production

	Popularity of cranberry drinks
	Development of a new pest control for cranberries

Question 36 pts

When high-school and college graduates apply for jobs in the labor markets,

	Job applicants and employers are both "buyers".
	Job applicants are the "sellers" while employers are the "buyers".

	Job applicants and employers are both "sellers".
	Job applicants are the "buyers" while employers are the "sellers".

Question 37 pts

Refer to the figure above, which shows three supply curves for corn. Which of the following would cause the supply of corn to shift from S₁ to S₂?

	A decrease in consumer incomes, assuming corn is a normal good
	The development of a more effective insecticide against corn rootworm

	An increase in the price of fertilizer
	A change in consumer tastes away from cornbread

Question 38 pts

Which is of the following statements is correct?

	If demand increases, then price will decrease
	If demand decreases, then price will decrease

	If price decreases, then demand will decrease
	If price increases, then demand will decrease

Question 39 pts

Which would be a likely cause of an increase in the demand for pizza?

	A decrease in the price of hamburger sandwiches
	A health report showing eating pizza reduces stress

	A reduced desire for take-out and fast-food dining
	A decrease in the prices of cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms

Question 40 pts

A market for a product reaches equilibrium when:

	Price falls further after there is a shortage
	The price rises further after there is a surplus

	Buyers intend to buy a quantity equal to the quantity that sellers intend to sell
	The actual quantity bought by buyers equals actual quantity sold by sellers

Question 41 pts

A higher price reduces the quantity demanded for a product because:

	Individuals can afford less of the product and will switch to substitutes
	The financial assets of individuals increase

	Individuals will buy more of the product and less of its substitutes
	The purchasing power of individuals increases

Question 42 pts

The idea of the Law of Demand, as applied to electric cars, assumes which of the following to be constant?

	Price of electric cars
	How much sellers are charging customers for electric cars

	Price of gasoline cars
	Quantity of electric cars demanded by buyers

Question 43 pts

Use the following graph of the demand for coffee:

Refer to the above diagram of three demand curves for coffee. An increase in the price of coffee, other factors constant, would cause a:

	Movement from point a to point b
	Movement from point b to point a

	Shift from D₁ to D₂
	Shift from D₁ to D₃

Question 44 pts

Which of the following factors will decrease the current demand for a product?

	A decrease in the current price of a complementary product
	A decrease in the current price of a substitute product

	An increase in the current price of a substitute product
	An expected increase in the future price of the product

Question 45pts

In competitive markets, a surplus or shortage will:

	Cause shifts in the demand and supply curves that tend to eliminate the surplus or shortage
	Cause changes in the quantities demanded and supplied that tend to intensify the surplus or shortage

	Cause changes in the quantities demanded and supplied that tend to eliminate the surplus or shortage
	Never exist because the markets are always at equilibrium

Question 46 pts

Which of the following would cause a leftward shift in the supply curve for car washes?

	A decrease in taxes on car washes
	An increase in the price of car washing equipment

	A decrease in the price of water
	An increase in the number of cars in the city

Question 47pts

The market system automatically corrects a surplus condition in a competitive market by:

	Raising the price of the commodity in question while decreasing the quantity demanded
	Raising the price of the commodity in question while increasing the quantity demanded

	Reducing the price of the commodity in question while increasing the quantity demanded
	Reducing the price of the commodity in question while decreasing the quantity demanded

Question 48 pts

A leftward shift of the supply curve for oil in the United States is most likely to result from:

	A decrease in the world price of oil
	An increase in the costs of exploration and drilling for oil

	An increase in the subsidy for oil exploration and drilling
	A decrease in the fees that oil companies must pay for drilling licenses

Question 49 pts

A fall in the price of milk, used in the production of ice cream, will:

	Decrease the supply of ice cream
	Have no effect on the supply of ice cream

	Increase the supply of ice cream
	Cause a movement along the supply curve of ice cream

Question 50 pts

Refer to the above graph, which shows the market for beef where demand shifted from D₁ and D₂. The change in equilibrium from E₁ to E₂ is most likely to result from:

	An increase in the cost of cattle feed
	A decrease in consumer incomes

	A decrease in the tax on beef products
	An increase in the price of pork

Michael spends all of his income on coffee and donuts. A coffee costs $2.50 and a donut costs $2.00. At his current consumption level, the marginal utility for coffee is 30 utils, and the marginal utility for a donut is 60 utils. Which statement best describes what Michael needs to do to maximize his utility?

Question 1 options:

1)	buy less of both coffee and donuts.

2)	buy less coffee and more donuts.

3)	buy more coffee and less donuts.

4)	spend the same amount on coffee as he does on donuts.

Question 2

What is it called when the marginal utility derived from the last dollar spent on each good is the same across all goods and the last dollar spent uses all of the available budget for the purchase of those goods?

Question 2 options:

1)	the optimal consumption bundle.

2)	the optimal production bundle.

3)	diminishing marginal utility.

4)	optimal point.

Question 3 (1 point)

What does the economic theory of marginal utility infer?

Question 3 options:

1)	consumers naturally know which consumption choices will maximize their utility.

2)	consumers who watch market trends are better at maximizing their utility than are those who do not watch those trends.

3)	one cannot maximize utility without taking an economics class that explains utility theory.

4)	one cannot maximize utility without doing the math of calculating the ratios of marginal utility divided by price.

Question 4

Kate is addicted to chocolate and does not care how much it costs. In fact, she spends more than $20 a week on chocolate. What can be concluded about elasticity in her buying decisions?

Question 4 options:

1)	Her income elasticity of demand for chocolate is equal to one.

2)	Her income elasticity of demand for chocolate is equal to zero.

3)	Her price elasticity of demand for chocolate is equal to one.

4)	Her price elasticity of demand for chocolate is equal to zero.

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Question 5 (1 point)

Why does the demand for a good become relatively more elastic?

Question 5 options:

1)	substitutes for the good become more available.

2)	substitutes for the good become less available.

3)	the good becomes more of a necessity.

4)	the time allowed for adjustment is shortened.

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Question 6 (1 point)

Assume the price of chicken per pound is $3.49 and that Americans purchase 10 million pounds per chicken every month. If the price of chicken increases to $5.49 per pound, identify what will occur to consumer surplus?

Question 6 options:

1)	consumer surplus increases.

2)	consumer surplus decreases.

3)	consumer surplus creates incentive to save.

4)	consumer surplus creates incentive to spend.

Question 7 (1 point)

What is another name for the difference between the price that consumers are willing to pay for a good and a lower price that they may actually have to pay?

Question 7 options:

profit.

revenue.

3)	consumer utility.

4)	consumer surplus.

Question 8

Adam, Brian, Robert, and Sam all want to attend a football game. The admission price is $48. Adam is willing to pay $59 for the ticket. Brian is willing to pay $39. Robert is willing to pay $45, and Sam is willing to pay $55. Based on this information, who will go to the game?

Question 8 options:

1)	Adam, Brian, Robert, and Sam.

2)	Brian and Robert.

3)	Adam and Sam.

4)	Brian, Robert, and Sam.

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Question 9 (1 point)

Lily is willing to pay $10 for one bracelet and $5 for a second. Patty is willing to pay $12 for one bracelet and $2 for a second. If the price is currently $8 per bracelet, identify what is the total consumer surplus after Lily and Patty make their purchases?

Question 9 options:

Question 10 (1 point)

Manfred is willing to shovel one driveway for $25, a second for $30, and a third for $35. Assume that the market rate for shoveling driveways is $32. How many driveways will Manfred shovel, what will be his total revenue, and what will be his producer surplus?

Question 10 options:

1)	Manfred will shovel two driveways for a total revenue of $64 and his producer surplus will be $9.

2)	Manfred will shovel three driveways for a total revenue of $75 and his producer surplus will be $12.

3)	Manfred will shovel three driveways for a total revenue of $96 and his producer surplus will be $5.

4)	Manfred will shovel four driveways for a total revenue of $125 and his producer surplus will be $18.

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Question 11 (1 point)

What would the difference between the price that producers receive and the lower price at which they are willing to sell the good be called?

Question 11 options:

1)	producer shortage.

2)	producer surplus.

3)	consumer shortage.

4)	consumer surplus.

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Question 12 (1 point)

What will happen when there is an increase in the price of eBook downloads?

Question 12 options:

1)	It reduces the marginal utility derived from each dollar spent on eBooks.

2)	It reduces the marginal utility derived from each hardcopy book purchased.

3)	There will not be a substitution effect.

4)	There will not be a change in the number of eBooks in the set of consumption possibilities.

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Question 13 (1 point)

When is price elasticity of demand utilized to measure how an individual changes the quantity they demand?

Question 13 options:

1)	when supply changes.

2)	when product quality changes.

3)	when marketing changes.

4)	when price changes.

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Question 14 (1 point)

Assume Mary consumes only tea and pastries. A cup of tea costs 5 euros and a pastry costs 8 euros. Her weekly income is 450 euros. Mary always drinks 2 cups of tea for every pastry she consumes. What is Maryâs optimal weekly consumption bundle?

Question 14 options:

1)	25 cups of tea and 50 pastries.

2)	50 cups of tea and 25 pastries.

3)	58 cups of tea and 20 pastries.

4)	60 cups of tea and 30 pastries.

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Question 15 (1 point)

When is producer surplus a positive value?

Question 15 options:

1)	the price the producer is willing to charge equals the market price.

2)	there is no tax applied to the good.

3)	the price the producer is willing to charge is less than the market price.

4)	the price the producer is willing to charge is greater than the market price.

ECO204Y5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Marginal Utility, Budget Constraint, Indifference Curve

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